Tire-tightener



(No Model.)

W. HOGAN.

TIRE TIGHTBNER.

Patente-d Jan. 13,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

qWILLIAM HOGAN, OF CORINTI-I, GEORGIA.

TI RE-TIG HTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,492, dated January 13, 1891. Application filed September 25,1890. Serial No. 366,055. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may con/cern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HOGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing atrCorinth, in the count-y of Heard and State ot' Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in 'l`ire'l`ighteuers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of tiretighteners designed to be applied to the outer ends of the spokes, under the telly, and adj ustable against the latter to tighten the tire.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective device of this character which shall be readily and quickly adjusted, which will form a strong and durable conne@ tion between the felly and spokes, and which will furthermore possess advantages in point of inexpensiv'eness in construction and general efcieucy.

To this end theinvention consists, substantially, in a thimble mounted upon the ends of the spokes and having an eXteriorly-threaded extension projecting therefrom, a tenon projecting from the extension and disposed in an eye in the telly, an adjustable int-eriorlythreaded sleeve working upon the extension and provided with an angular outer end having a contracted opening Working upon the tenon and held thereby against lateral play, and a washer-plate provided with outturned anges at its sides adapted to-lap over the telly and strengthen the same, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a wheel provided with my improved tire-tightener. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane of one of the spokes. Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view illustrating the adjustable sleeve extended upon the thimble. Fig. e is a detail perspective view of the thimble and adjustable sleeve detached. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the washer-plate.

Corresponding parts in the figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a wheel comprising the ordinary spokes B, felly C, and tire D. The spokes B are shortened in length from their outer ends, and the latter are reduced to form studs b, projecting outwardly from the spokes and in a longitudi nal plane therewith.

E designates a thimble, cylindrical in shape and preferably cast or otherwise constructed ot' brass or other suitable metal. The thimbles E are by preference of a corresponding` diameter to that of the spokes, and are each provided centrally in its inner or opposing end with a socket e, corresponding to and adapted to receive the stud b of its respective spoke. By thus connecting the spokes and thimble the latter forms practically a smooth unbroken continuation of the former.

From the free or outer end of the thimble E projects a centrally-disposed cylindrical extension F of smaller diameter than the thimble and formed integral therewith. The eX- tension F is provided with exterior screwthreadsf, and by reason of its contracted diameter a shoulder f is formed between the same at its inner end and the periphery ot' the thimble. A tenon G, of greatly-reduced diameter, projects centrally from the outer or tree end of the extension F, with which it is formed integral. The tenon is ot solid formation, thus insuring greater strength, and projects through an eye or bore c in the telly C and abuts normally against the tire B, the tenon serving as a secure connection betwee the spoke and felly.

H designates a tubular sleeve, provided with interior screw-threads 7L, corresponding to and designed to meshwith the threads f upon the extension F. The sleeve H corresponds in diameter to the thimble E, and when screwed home upon the extension F, with its inner edge abutting against the shoulder f', forms a smooth unbroken continuation ot' the thimble. At the outer end of the sleeve is formed integral therewith an angular eXtension H', adapted to be engaged by a wrench for the purpose of adjusting or extending the sleeve. The portion H is provided with an eye or bore 7L of less diameter than the bore of the sleeve proper and corresponds to the diameter of the tenon G, upon which said portion Works. It will thus be seen that no matter what position the sleeve may occupy with relation to the extension F the former is guided by the tenon G and lateral play of the sleeve effectually prevented.

The outer face of the portion H of the sleeve H' bears against a washer-plate l, provided with a central eye or bore t, through which the tenon G passes. The washer-plate is formed of iron or other suitable metal, and has its opposite sides i 'i' bent outwardly and adapted to overlap the felly, serving as a brace for the latter and to obviate splitting` thereof.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. It is my purpose to provide each spoke with one of the tighteners; but it will be obvious that the number of and arrangement of the latter may be varied according to circumstances without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

In adjusting the tighteners the sleeves are turned through the medium of a wrench to force them against the felly, thereby expanding the circumference of the latterI and binding it securely against the tire. If at any time the latter should work loose, it may be readily tightened by a further adjustment of the tighteners, as above set forth.

I Claim as my inventioni. ln atii'e-tiglitener, the combinatiomwith the spokes and felly of a wheel, of thimbles mounted upon the former and under the latter and provided with a contracted screwthreaded extension projecting,` outwardly therefrom, a tenon of lessdiarneter than said extension and adapted to be received by an eye or bore ou the felly, said tenon being smooth and Unthreaded throughout its length, and an interiorly-threaded sleeve closed at its outer end and working upon the threaded extension, the sleeve being provided with an unthreaded eye in its closed end corresponding to and receiving the tenen, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a tire-tightener, the combination,with the spokes and felly of a wheel, of thimbles mounted upon the former and under the latter and provided with a contracted screwthreaded extension projecting outwardly therefrom, a tenon of less diameter than said extension and adapted to be received by an eye or bore in the felly, an adjustable tightening-sleeve workingr on the threaded extension and retained against lateral displacement by the tenon in the manner described, and a fiat Washer-plate interposed between the outer face of the sleeve and the under side of the felly and havingits projecting portions bent up against the sides of the felly, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. As au improved article of manufacture, a tire-tightener consisting of a thimble provided with a socket at its inner end, an integral screw-threaded extension projecting from the outer end of the thimble and of less diameter than the latter, a tenen integral with the extension, of less diameter than the latter, and projectingr from the outer ond thereof, an interiorly-screw-threaded sleeve adapted to work upon the extension and provided with an angular outer end having a contracted bore or eye for receivingthe tenon and working` thereon, and a washerplate adapted to be mounted upon the tenon and.

provided with ontturned opposite sides adapted to overlap and brace the felly of a wheel, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

In testi mouy whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HOGAN.

Witnesses:

W. W. WISDOM, L. B. WEBB. 

